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Your Surgical Passport

Your Surgical Passport is your guide of what to expect through each phase of the surgical process at Surgical Care - Blue at EvergreenHealth Medical Center.

1 - Registration

  • We will complete the check-in process and verify your insurance information
  • We will confirm your date of birth and the correct spelling of your name. We will provide you with pre-surgical paperwork
  • We will secure your valuables with your family (preferred) or in the hospital safe

2 - Volunteer Desk

  • We will record contact phone information for your family
  • We will provide hospital contact phone numbers
  • We will instruct you on completing your pre-surgical information packet
  • We will provide directions to hospital amenities

3 - Pre-Surgical Care Unit (PSCU)

  • You will meet the admitting nurse, who will reconfirm your identification
  • Nurse will review surgical content with you, and provide education for you and your family
  • You will meet your surgeon and operating room team (anesthesiologist and OR nurse)
  • You will complete a physical assessment
  • To promote absolute safety, your surgeon will mark your surgical site
  • Your nurse will insert a venous catheter to administer fluids and medications

4 - Operating Room (OR)

  • You'll be safely moved to the surgical table, and a safety belt will be applied
  • A warming system will be applied to maintain your body temperature. Your heart rhythm, blood pressure, breathing and temperature will be monitored
  • Your anesthesia provider will administer the anesthetic to keep you comfortable and relaxed during the surgery
  • The OR team will "pause" to perform a verbal confirmation briefing before the surgery to ensure the patient is ready for the procedure and to confirm the plan for the surgery.

5 - Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

  • You will be delivered from the operating room to the recovery area (PACU)
  • The surgeon will report to the family in the family waiting area
  • Your heart, blood pressure, breathing and temperature will continue to be monitored. You'll continue to be warmed to maintain your body temperature
  • Any surgical pain will be managed to keep you as comfortable as possible, while maintaining your safety.
  • Any nausea or vomiting will be managed, if necessary

Time in the PACU varies depending on the patient's needs. You will remain in the PACU until your nurse assesses that you meet the criteria to be safely discharged or transferred to your hospital room.

In order to protect the privacy of our patients, and to allow the nurses to focus on the safe care of each patient during the critical phase, visitors are generally not allowed in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. Exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis, for very specific circumstances—such as one parent allowed to be at the bedside of their child.

6 - Going Home

  • We will reunite the patient and family after the surgery and recovery are complete
  • We will assess the patient's ability to maintain oral intake, pain tolerance, wound care and mobility
  • We will provide education prior to discharge
  • We will ensure outpatient prescriptions are available
  • We will release the patient home with a 24-hour care provider when discharge criteria are met